Oh hush you British people.
I would have given my first & last born to have been there!
Never mind, we get some 'highlights' on TV tonight.

I can't choose any of the answers.
The monarchy / republic debate rages on and off  in many places & will for a very long time to come. It's all wrapped up in people with short memories; people who have no respect for their roots. It's a sad reflection on this society we live in than respect for authority figures is being replaced with scrutiny. What they don't realise is that trend goes all the way down the pecking line. They want to do that at the very top & then they wonder why down the end of the chain, teachers get no respect from students or police get no respect from the public.  When that happens, they need to remember; they started the crumbling of respect and authority.

*steps off soap box*

There it is.

No, I missed it! I was rehearsing for my Bassoon exam!

We went to friends' house yesterday for a big party. Almost everyone dressed in red, white and blue. There was too much to eat which included mini-Yorkshire puddings with beef, horseradish and a slice of gherkin, Coronation Chicken, a BBQ and desserts including good old-fashioned fruit jelly and a cake that had a Union Jack decoration made from strawberries and blueberries etc. Pimms was available, although sadly I was the driver so...

The TV was on in one room, first of all for the South Africa vs Ireland Rugby match (don't ask! No connection to the jubilee but lots of rugby players at the party) and later the big concert. Everyone joined in, especially with Elton John.

The day before was the amazing Pageant on the Thames which was cry much dampened by the dreadful weather- a cameraman's and sound-man's nightmare. It was blinking freezing.

Congrats to Queen Lizzie for being born into the right family and not dying yet.

Kazza, I respect what you are saying, even though I don't agree with all of it. I have great respect for my roots, they just are not English. Surely we can take a bit from here and a bit from there and come up with our own way of doing things. And the monarchy, and the respect for authority it generates, didn't stop the riots in Britain last year!

I am a Republican (in the anti-monarchy sense, not the American political party sense). Monarchy is based on a person being born into a right family, not through any personal achievements. The Queen may work hard (blah, blah, blah) but we all do, and we don't get to go home to a palace.

I respect a peron who works their way up from nothing to success, e.g. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela, Barak Obama. I can't stand people who use their family connections and money to become powerful, e.g. Rupert Murdoch, whose father was a wealthy journalist, or Gina Rinehart, mining magnate and the world's richest woman, who inherited her money from her father (mind you, her father Lang Hancock, was a self-made man), both of whom use their money to buy political influence.

Sorry to get all political on you, it's just a subject that I feel passionate about.

Last edited by hepzibah (June 5, 2012 8:03 pm)

hepzibah wrote:

Congrats to Queen Lizzie for being born into the right family and not dying yet.

Kazza, I respect what you are saying, even though I don't agree with all of it. I have great respect for my roots, they just are not English. Surely we can take a bit from here and a bit from there and come up with our own way of doing things. And the monarchy, and the respect for authority it generates, didn't stop the riots in Britain last year!

I am a Republican (in the anti-monarchy sense, not the American political party sense). Monarchy is based on a person being born into a right family, not through any personal achievements. The Queen may work hard (blah, blah, blah) but we all do, and we don't get to go home to a palace.

I respect a peron who works their way up from nothing to success, e.g. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela, Barak Obama. I can't stand people who use their family connections and money to become powerful, e.g. Rupert Murdoch, whose father was a wealthy journalist, or Gina Rinehart, mining magnate and the world's richest woman, who inherited her money from her father (mind you, her father Lang Hancock, was a self-made man), both of whom use their money to buy political influence.

Sorry to get all political on you, it's just a subject that I feel passionate about.

So by your reasoning, no Royal shall ever be considered 'great' as they have no choice to be born into a family of wealth & position. Frankly I don't think the Royals SEEK power, but but position they naturally acquire some power however by the way the Government sets things up, they really have no power in the running of the country.
They do however have Prestige. And they do have the love of millions of people.

And blaming the Monarchy for the riots is just way off the mark.

Nahhhhh don't be such a wimp; it's ok. Just friendly debates here

Now where is the fun in that?

Waves white hankie!